IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the Editor for Jan. 28, 2013

Published: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 10:30 p.m.

Filled with danger

On the front page of the Jan. 20 Star-Banner is an above-the-fold article about how the gasoline tax revenue should be apportioned between the cities and the county. The color photo showing a man filling two 5-gallon plastic containers with gasoline is a how-to lesson in self-immolation, and should have been accompanied by a disclaimer emphasizing the dangers of static electricity.

I am not citing this photo to embarrass the subject, but to prevent his being injured or killed the next time he fills his containers, when he might not be so lucky, especially on a cool, dry day. Read the instructions affixed to each gas pump for safe filling of separate containers, and you realize that the friction of flowing gasoline generates an electrical charge which will build up until it creates a spark, if the container is not grounded in some way. The simplest way to ground it is the intuitive one: Set it on the ground. Also, the nozzle should always be held against the side of the filler opening.

I understand that it is more convenient to leave the container on the tailgate or bed of a pickup or in the trunk of your car, but avoiding the effort of lifting a 30-pound weight could cost you your life. Ask the attendant to do the lifting, or use a smaller (approved) container, if the 5-gallon size is too heavy for you. Then, you can enjoy your drive home instead of a trip to the ER.

David B. Keith

Ocala

Rewriting history

In response to the writer of “Memory like an elephant,” I have the memory of an elephant. I can remember Bill Clinton moving debt between what is owed to the public and what is owed internally to supposedly sacred trust funds like Social Security. For Democrats with no clear understanding of economics, that's the equivalent of paying your Visa bill with your Mastercard.

He also had the debt ceiling increased four times during his tenure. Do the math. If you have a surplus, you do not need to borrow money.

There was never a surplus. The surplus was a projection based on tax revenues continuing to increase as a result of the dot.com bubble (we all know that burst) and spending cuts (we all know those never happen under Democrats).

Your facts are incorrect on Bush. He did not ask the debt limit be raised 17 times, it was seven times between 2002 and 2008. During that time, we were reeling from the effects of the terrorist attack and waging two unnecessary wars. He also possessed traits of most Democrats — spend, spend, spend so that the 47 percent of you who pay no federal income taxes can continue feeding at the taxpayer-funded trough and vote these clowns back into office while the rest of us pay way more than our fair share.

You accuse Republicans of not remembering history, yet you Democrats continue to try and rewrite it.

Connie S. Hardgrove

Stone Creek

Go to church

Greater things have yet to come.

Some time ago there was a story in the Star-Banner stating that 65 percent of Marion County residents have no formal affiliation with any of the 515 churches here.

Let's do some math. Since there are around 400,000 people here in Marion County, that means that there are 260,000 people here that have no relationship with Jesus Christ.

I am 81 years old and have been going to church all of my life, but had no relationship with Jesus Christ until I started attending Bible Baptist Church a little over a year ago. I have learned more about the Bible and Jesus Christ in that short time than in all my life at the other churches.

I would like to invite all of the 260,000 in the county that do not know Jesus Christ to visit Bible Baptist Church any Sunday, or at least some church in our community.

Donald Ott

Ocala

Fraud safe haven

Marion County is a safe haven for unlicensed residential contractors and developers intending to defraud their favored targets — seniors in developer-controlled homeowner association communities. Most associations operate properly, but some exceptions cause senior victims financial ruin and foreclosure.

Residential contractors need licensing, developers do not. Purchasing a home in a developer-controlled not-for-profit residential community association locks the buyer into a dictatorship for eternity. Some contractors and developers blatantly ignore laws while committing fraud, felony theft, discrimination and racketeering. Fiduciary responsibility is breached, providing perpetual unjust enrichment to the developer while homeowners have no voting power or representation.

One troubled community involves an unlicensed contractor, the president of a bank closed by federal regulators, an attorney disbarred for misappropriation of funds and a licensed manager with a real estate broker license revoked for fraud.

A senator stated, “Ask the attorney general to seat a special prosecutor and convene a statewide grand jury for corruption and ask for the governor's support.”

Lack of prosecution perpetuates the fraud. The elected state attorney posts his commitment to advocate for the interest of all victims and hold offenders accountable. He has not fulfilled his commitment.

A home purchase brings indisputable rights to peaceful enjoyment and equal protection under the law. Sheriff Blair is encouraged to expeditiously assemble a task force for serious investigation and prosecution of developer and community association corruption and racketeering in Marion County.

<p><b>Filled with danger</b></p><p>On the front page of the Jan. 20 Star-Banner is an above-the-fold article about how the gasoline tax revenue should be apportioned between the cities and the county. The color photo showing a man filling two 5-gallon plastic containers with gasoline is a how-to lesson in self-immolation, and should have been accompanied by a disclaimer emphasizing the dangers of static electricity.</p><p>I am not citing this photo to embarrass the subject, but to prevent his being injured or killed the next time he fills his containers, when he might not be so lucky, especially on a cool, dry day. Read the instructions affixed to each gas pump for safe filling of separate containers, and you realize that the friction of flowing gasoline generates an electrical charge which will build up until it creates a spark, if the container is not grounded in some way. The simplest way to ground it is the intuitive one: Set it on the ground. Also, the nozzle should always be held against the side of the filler opening.</p><p>I understand that it is more convenient to leave the container on the tailgate or bed of a pickup or in the trunk of your car, but avoiding the effort of lifting a 30-pound weight could cost you your life. Ask the attendant to do the lifting, or use a smaller (approved) container, if the 5-gallon size is too heavy for you. Then, you can enjoy your drive home instead of a trip to the ER.</p><p><i>David B. Keith</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p><b>Rewriting history</b></p><p>In response to the writer of “Memory like an elephant,” I have the memory of an elephant. I can remember Bill Clinton moving debt between what is owed to the public and what is owed internally to supposedly sacred trust funds like Social Security. For Democrats with no clear understanding of economics, that's the equivalent of paying your Visa bill with your Mastercard.</p><p>He also had the debt ceiling increased four times during his tenure. Do the math. If you have a surplus, you do not need to borrow money.</p><p>There was never a surplus. The surplus was a projection based on tax revenues continuing to increase as a result of the dot.com bubble (we all know that burst) and spending cuts (we all know those never happen under Democrats).</p><p>Your facts are incorrect on Bush. He did not ask the debt limit be raised 17 times, it was seven times between 2002 and 2008. During that time, we were reeling from the effects of the terrorist attack and waging two unnecessary wars. He also possessed traits of most Democrats — spend, spend, spend so that the 47 percent of you who pay no federal income taxes can continue feeding at the taxpayer-funded trough and vote these clowns back into office while the rest of us pay way more than our fair share.</p><p>You accuse Republicans of not remembering history, yet you Democrats continue to try and rewrite it.</p><p><i>Connie S. Hardgrove</p><p>Stone Creek</i></p><p><b>Go to church</b></p><p>Greater things have yet to come.</p><p>Some time ago there was a story in the Star-Banner stating that 65 percent of Marion County residents have no formal affiliation with any of the 515 churches here.</p><p>Let's do some math. Since there are around 400,000 people here in Marion County, that means that there are 260,000 people here that have no relationship with Jesus Christ.</p><p>I am 81 years old and have been going to church all of my life, but had no relationship with Jesus Christ until I started attending Bible Baptist Church a little over a year ago. I have learned more about the Bible and Jesus Christ in that short time than in all my life at the other churches.</p><p>I would like to invite all of the 260,000 in the county that do not know Jesus Christ to visit Bible Baptist Church any Sunday, or at least some church in our community.</p><p><i>Donald Ott</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p><b>Fraud safe haven</b></p><p>Marion County is a safe haven for unlicensed residential contractors and developers intending to defraud their favored targets — seniors in developer-controlled homeowner association communities. Most associations operate properly, but some exceptions cause senior victims financial ruin and foreclosure.</p><p>Residential contractors need licensing, developers do not. Purchasing a home in a developer-controlled not-for-profit residential community association locks the buyer into a dictatorship for eternity. Some contractors and developers blatantly ignore laws while committing fraud, felony theft, discrimination and racketeering. Fiduciary responsibility is breached, providing perpetual unjust enrichment to the developer while homeowners have no voting power or representation.</p><p>One troubled community involves an unlicensed contractor, the president of a bank closed by federal regulators, an attorney disbarred for misappropriation of funds and a licensed manager with a real estate broker license revoked for fraud.</p><p>A senator stated, “Ask the attorney general to seat a special prosecutor and convene a statewide grand jury for corruption and ask for the governor's support.”</p><p>Lack of prosecution perpetuates the fraud. The elected state attorney posts his commitment to advocate for the interest of all victims and hold offenders accountable. He has not fulfilled his commitment.</p><p>A home purchase brings indisputable rights to peaceful enjoyment and equal protection under the law. Sheriff Blair is encouraged to expeditiously assemble a task force for serious investigation and prosecution of developer and community association corruption and racketeering in Marion County.</p><p><i>Don Kronen</p><p>Ocala</i></p>